Associated Students, Inc. held an emergency meeting on Sept. 7 to discuss ways to reach out to those victims displaced by Hurricane Katrina’s devastating path.

ASI President Angel Barajas presented a $10,000 grant package to the board of directors who unanimously voted to pass it.

The multitiered legislation includes an immediate donation of $3,500 to the American Council on Education Campus Relief, the establishment of a $1,000 promotional campaign called the “Five for Life” challenge, and the creation of a $5,500 matching fund grant for the Red Cross.

ASI’s immediate donation of $3,500 given to ACE specifically targets those college students who attended universities and colleges that suffered hurricane damage along the Gulf Coast.

ASI has also created a $5,500 fund that they hope will be matched by University Enterprises.

On Friday, Barajas met with Matt Altier, director of University Enterprises Inc. Barajas said he will motion for the non-profit organization to match the $5,500 fund that ASI has set aside at a Sept. 15 University Enterprises Inc. meeting.

Also in discussion with ASI is Maloof Entertainment, which has its own interest in matching the student government contribution.

Surplus seeks a home

ASI is facing a dilemma rarely seen by a governing body: It’s looking to allocate a $550,000 budget surplus for the upcoming 2005-2006 fiscal year.

Angel Barajas, ASI president, said that the funds are leftover from last year.

Barajas, along with five other co-authors from the board of directors, have created a rough outline for how they would like the surplus funds to be disbursed.

The largest chunk, $144,000, will be set aside for the ASI reserve account, which accumulates money for emergency-related incidences.

The remainder of the money will be set aside for student scholarships, staff and wage increases, ASI core programs, such as the Children Center, the Aquatic Center, Peak Adventures and KSSU, DOC/SEL funding and ASI elections.

Barajas’ ambition for the fund is to boost funding for external programs such as DOC/SEL, which will enhance campus life by padding student club and organization budgets. In addition, Barajas will aim to fund previously unfunded student programs.